Are you looking to become a pro pool player overnight? Unfortunately, drastically improving your skills takes a lot of practice - even the professionals, currently playing the Championship League and British Open, started as beginners. However, there are some small tips and tricks that will instantly improve your playing of the game.
Get your grip right
One of the first mistakes new players make is how they hold the pool cues. While it may feel natural to have a tighter grip, it actually decreases your precision. It can cause the butt of the cue to raise, making it harder to shoot straight. A tight grip also makes it more likely that you’ll jump the ball off the table.
Practice holding the cue with a light, loose grip, with the cue not even touching your palm, for a more accurate shot.
Understanding the angles
To be able to pot any pool balls, you need to understand maths. Angles, specifically. For anyone who thought they’d never see geometry again after leaving school, I'm sorry, but it’s a big part of the game. Don’t worry though, you won’t actually need to do any, just understand it.
To better familiarise yourself with how the balls will behave, why not get some practice balls? The Ultimate Training Ball has a green grid-like structure, showing you where to hit the ball and where it’s going to go. There are advanced red markings, to help with sidespin. This 1 7/8 Aramith Pro Cup Cue Ball is easier to understand, as it has 6 large red spots for cue strike position and spin to be seen.
Learn to align your body
When taking a shot, it is important to stand correctly. You don’t want to be awkwardly towering over the pool table, barely able to balance yourself. For proper alignment, your eyes, head, arm and cue should all be in line with the ball you want to hit. Try to keep your head and neck low. Keep practising your alignment until it becomes muscle memory and comes to you naturally.
Learn how to shoot smoothly
It’s all well and good having the correct posture and alignment, but if it all goes out the window as soon as your arm moves, you need to work on your shot. Moving your upper arm while shooting is one of the biggest mistakes beginners make, so make sure your upper and lower arm are both aligned correctly. The ideal shooting motion is often described as a ‘pendulum-like movement’, with your shooting hand directly under your elbow when holding the cue.
Keep practising with different speeds and forces to see how it affects the ball's motion. After all, how hard you hit the cue ball can completely alter its path.
Develop a strong bridge
Your bridge is your non-shooting hand, which is positioned on the table to guide the cue. It can make or break any shot, so it's important to understand how to do it right.
Start by firmly placing your fingers on the table, then press your thumb and forefinger together to create a ‘V’ shape. Place the end of the cue on the ‘V’ and use your fingers to create a solid foundation for your cue. Keep adjusting your finger until you are completely satisfied, then try getting in and out of the position multiple times. This will create muscle memory, meaning you won’t have to actively think about your hand placement in the future.
Invest in a pool table
The only way to improve your skills in a short space of time is to practice, and when you have your own table, practising becomes a lot easier. If you’re looking to turn pro, it is recommended to practice on a professional league table, like this Supreme Winner Pool Table.
If your aim is to impress your friends at the pub, a regular table, like this Buffalo Napoleon American Pool Table, will do just fine. While it may not be tournament ready, this luxury table radiates beauty and lasting durability. It will look great in any room and exudes class and style.
If you’re looking to buy a table on a budget, check out our used pool tables for sale. This Mahogany Tulip Leg Snooker & Pool Table is sophisticated and easy to play on.
At Hamilton Billiards, we specialise in manufacturing bespoke pool, billiards and snooker tables to custom drawings and specifications. We also sell pool accessories like pool balls, cues, cue racks and cue cases.
If you have any questions regarding our tables or accessories, don’t hesitate to contact us. We can be reached at 01462743803 or [email protected].